California Ag Commodities Lesson Intro to Ag Ms. Senff

Mind Moo-ver - Where would you be without Agriculture?

Objectives: Define “commodity” and understand its role in California agriculture Identify California commodities and rank them 1-20 according to their economic impact Compare and contrast agriculture imports and exports Select and agricultural commodity and construct a poster/brochure/Powerpoint informing classmates about that specific commodity. Design a “commodity” collage based on commodities grown in your assigned California region.

Did you know that CA…. Has been the #1 Agriculture Producing State for the past 50 years. CA’s leading EXPORT is Almonds! California is the nation's leading producer of strawberries, averaging 1.4 billion pounds of strawberries or 83% of the country's total fresh and frozen strawberry production.

California’s Farmers & Ranchers Produce over 250 different CROPS and Livestock Products. Agriculture provides for nearly 1 in 10 jobs in California.

Top 3 Ag Producing States California - Milk and Cream Texas - Cattle and Calves Iowa - Corn and Swine (Pork)

What is a Commodity? A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought, sold, or traded. Agriculturally speaking: Anything grown or produced for us to survive. Food, clothing etc...!

What commodities are produced in CA? 400 Commodities from Almonds to walnuts. CA leads the nation in 75 commodities These commodities are only grown commercially in California: almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, raisins, kiwifruit, olives, clingstone peaches, pistachios, dried plums, pomegranates, sweet rice, persimmons and walnuts.

Persimmons….

Where we rank Nationally The Golden State is the No. 1 agricultural producer and exporter in the U.S. California provides approximately ½ of fruits, nuts, and vegetables for the U.S. One CA farmer produces enough food to feed 129 people.

California Farmlands CA farmlands account for only 3.7% of the Nation’s total farmlands! CA produces 11.3% of the total US total output 15% of U.S. crop, 7.1% of U.S. livestock

California Farmlands 80,500 total CA farms and ranches are 27% of the State’s total land area. Average size: 347 acres CA ranks 6th Nationally in farmland numbers Texas is #1 with 78% of the state and 568 average size Montana is #2 with 65% and 2,146 average size

Mind Moo-ver Objective – QOD – SWBAT… Identify specific commodities within specific regions California and their effect on Agriculture QOD – What is a commodity? Give an example of a commodity in California. Where does California rank nationally for Agricultural Imports/Exports?

California Farmlands CA produces more than half the Nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts on only 3% of our farmland. Total output: $42.6 billion Exports: $18.18 billion

California Farmlands Types of Farms 95%+ are family farms or partnerships 6% are corporations; but 80% of this 6% are family owned corporations.

Why is California Agriculture so VIABLE (AKA: Steller!!!) The temperate year-round climate and expanses of land provide foods the nation and world have grown to enjoy and count on. year-round production of lemons, artichokes, avocados, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, mushrooms, potatoes, spinach, and squash Fertile Soil: More than 2,000 types of soils. Diverse land resources: Valleys, foothills, mountains, coastal areas, and deserts Progressive farmers

California’s Top Commodities #1 Dairy: Milk and Cream - < $7.6 billon! #2 Almonds - $5.8 billion #3 Grapes - $5.6 billion #4 Cattle/Calves – $3 billion #5 Strawberries - $2.2 billion

CA Top Commodities #6 – Walnuts - $1.8 billion #7 – Lettuce (all) - $1.7 billion #8 – Hay (all) - $1.6 billion #9 – Tomatoes - $1.2 billion #10 – Nursery Plants - $1.2 billion

CA Top Commodities #11 – Pistachio - $1.1 billion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKn_7fyB5fw #12 – Flowers & Foliage - $9.8 million #13 – Rice - $7.7 million #14 – Oranges (all) - $7.6 million #15 – Chickens - $7.2 million

CA Top Commodities #16 – Cotton lint (all) - $6.5 million #17 – Broccoli - $6.4 million #18 – Carrots - $5 million #19 – Lemons - $4.4 million #20 – Eggs, Chicken - $3.9 million

Impacts of the CA Drought… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80_xp5FzHZM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jChWPPndHQ8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuiZJrBdxy4 In your notes, write some reactions you have to the videos.

2012 CA Top Producing Counties Fresno @ $6.587 billion Kern @ $6.212 billion Tulare @ $6.210 billion Monterey @ $4.137 billion Merced @ $3.280 billion Stanislaus @ $3.277 billion San Joaquin @ $2.881 billion Kings @ $2.215 billion Ventura @ $1.960 billion Imperial @ $1.945 billion

What About Contra Costa County?? In 2012 Contra Costa County was ranked 40th @ $90.972 million. Top 5 Contra Costa County commodities: Cattle & calves @ $15.967 million Sweet corn @ $13.650 million Grain corn @ $7.546 million Grapes @ $7.546 million Tomatoes @ $7.526 million

And Brentwood??? BRENTWOOD, CA is known for agricultural commodities – Cherries, peaches, corn! http://civileats.com/2014/09/30/preserving-farms-on-the-urban-edge-case-study-brentwood-california/

Imports Imports: Goods or services that were produced abroad and brought into the state. Causes money to move out of American economy Meets the needs of citizens when goods or services are not offered in the United States Prices dictated by other countries offering the goods.

2010 Top 10 Imported Commodities Vegetables @ $9.316 billion Fruits @ $9.174 billion Grains & Feeds @ $7.786 billion Oilseeds & Products @ $5.390 billion Coffee @ $4.945 billion Cocoa @ $4.295 billion Wine @ $4.279 billion Sugar @ $4.047 billion Malt beverages @ $3.507 billion Beef & Veal @ $2.828 billion

Exports Exports: Goods or services produced locally and sold abroad. Brings foreign money into the American economy Allows the US to distribute excess goods, or goods that have no market in the US Prices dictated by global economy and supply and demand.

2012 Top CA Export Commodities Almonds @ $2.391 billion Dairy Products @ $1.149 billion Wine @ $1.007 billion Walnuts @ $819.5 million Rice @ $796.9 million Pistachios @ $719.6 million Table Grapes @ $641.2 million Oranges @ $566.4 million Tomatoes @ $492.4 million Cotton @ $368.3 million

2012 Top Trading Partners Canada @ 3.148 billion Lettuce, strawberries, table grapes, wine European Union @ $2.511 billion Almonds, wine, pistachios, walnuts China/Hong Kong @ $2.341 billion Cotton, almonds, pistachio, walnuts Japan @ $1.532 billion Rice, almonds, beef, beef products Mexico @ $888.9 million Dairy & products, table grapes, almonds, tomatoes

Commodity Poster Assignment! Get Excited!  You have been assigned on which you will complete an informational poster/brochure/PowerPoint. Please read all the criteria on the Directions Sheet provided. This does not have to be a California grown commodity. You WILL have some time in class to work on it Will be doing presentations ________ Food is NOT required, but helps it be a YUMMY couple days in class.

Homework Assignment! Bring 2 catalogs/newspapers (APPROPRIATE PLEASE!) into class. You will receive participation points. We will be working together to create a MASSIVE California State Commodity Collage.. So magazines with agricultural products would be a bonus!

Production Areas of CA Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley Delta Region Central Coast South Coast North Coast Imperial/Desert Mountain Region In what region does Brentwood reside??

Counties: Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama #1 Sacramento Valley Rice Tomatoes Walnuts Almonds Livestock Hay Plums Milk Counties: Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama

Counties: Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus #2 San Joaquin Valley Cotton Oranges Cattle Tomatoes Wine grapes Table grapes Raisins Almonds Stone Fruits Milk & Cream Pistachios Corn Silage Vegetables Counties: Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus

#3 Delta Region Sweet Corn Corn Silage Almonds Milk Vegetables Tomatoes Cattle Walnuts Asparagus Wine Grapes Cherries Counties: San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Solano

#4 Central Coast Lettuce Broccoli Beef Cattle Livestock Wine grapes Strawberries Artichokes Flowers Spinach Berries Vegetables Counties: Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura

#5 South Coast Eggs Nursery Products Flowers Livestock Market Chickens Milk Avocados Lemons Dates Counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego

#6 North Coast Wine Grapes Nursery Products Cattle & Calves Pasture Milk Livestock Hay Vegetables Fruits & Nuts Counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara

#7 Imperial/Desert Dates Alfalfa Lettuce Sugar Beets Wheat Milk & Cream Nursery Products Walnuts Market Chickens Cattle Eggs Counties: Imperial, Riverside, San Bernadino,

#8 Mountain Region Christmas Trees Wheat Potatoes Garlic Sheep Hay Apples Nursery Products Wine grapes Onions Timber Pasture Cattle Honey Counties: Inyo, Mono, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Alpine, Calaveras, Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Plumes, Lassen, Shasta, Modoc, Trinity, Siskiyou

CA Commodities Map Activity

Something to consider: China can produce a 30 lb. box of garlic for the wholesale cost of $12. California produces a 30 lb. box of garlic for the wholesale cost of $20. Why is there such a large cost difference?

Reasons for the production cost differences: California has strict regulations where the use of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are concerned. Cost of labor (planting, care, and harvest) Cost of inputs (fertilizers, herbicides, water, etc.)